Wage Loss Monitoring for Injured Workers in California's Workers' Compensation System: 2013 Injury Year Findings (First Interim Report)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dworsky ◽  
Stephanie Rennane ◽  
Nicholas Broten
2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26
Author(s):  
Lydia Arnold-Smith ◽  
Henry G. Harder

AbstractAttending physicians and medical advisors, physicians contracting their services to the Workers' Compensation Board, have key roles in assisting injured workers to return to work. A literature review of the role of the physician in the compensable return to work process reveals a lack of information regarding the experiences of medical advisors. This descriptive phenomenological study was undertaken to explore the lived experiences of four medical advisors in a northern rural service delivery location. The purpose of the research was to gain an understanding of the medical advisors' experiences in the compensable return to work process and in the compensation system. Analysis of the interview data revealed a central theme of commitment to quality medical care for injured workers, along with three major themes and several minor themes subsumed within the major concepts: providing medical opinions — requiring factual information, clarifying the diagnosis, no previous relationship with worker, categories of injuries; working with attending physicians and specialists — building relationships, evidence based treatment plans, role of the attending physician, role of the medical advisor; and, working within the workers' compensation environment — structure and policies, expedited services, and case management/team environment. This research report presents the central theme as the foundation through which the major themes are interconnected. This study does not generalise to all medical advisors, but relays stories that contain the essence of a lived experience.


1996 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianna T. Kenny

Key stakeholders' perceptions of the role of the treating doctor, including treating doctors themselves, in the management of workplace injury and in occupational rehabilitation of injured workers was assessed via in-depth semi-structured interviews of doctors and via interviews and surveys of other stakeholders (injured workers, employers, rehabilitation co-ordinators, rehabilitation providers and insurers) in the post-injury period. A number of difficulties were identified by both doctors themselves and by other stakeholders in the treating doctors' management of compensable work injury clients. It was argued that these problems were a function of the conflict of interest that arises for various service providers within the current workers' compensation system and the polarised and adversarial nature of relationships between providers. The discussion of the underlying structural and policy problems inherent in the current workers' compensation system at various levels of practice which this study has highlighted provides a first step in attempts to resolve these difficulties in individual practitioner-client relationships.


1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Sandra Bentley

In a period of legislative reform, New South Wales' workers compensation stakeholders can learn at least broad lessons by making comparisons with the experience of other countries in post reform review. This article considers the overall impact of the 1993 reforms on the Californian workers' compensation system, with focus on reforms and outcomes in the Vocational Rehabilitation sector. It was found post reform that the number of claims and paid benefits have decreased substantially, and total premiums paid and Vocational Rehabilitation expenditures are down dramatically. However, the changes are blamed for an increase in legal complexity, as return-to work outcomes and post-injury earnings for injured workers appear to have worsened. Additionally benefit levels remain a continuing concern.


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